Apparatus for closing stocking toes



G. DITRICH APPARATUS FOR CLOSING STOCKINGTO July 1, 1969 ofS Sheet FiledFeb. 4. 1966 July 1, 1969 e. DITRICH APPARATUS FOR CLOSING STOCKING TOESFiled Feb. 4, 1966 Sheet BY (T) Q50M0 muuQJ QM me.

. ATTORNEYS July 1, 1969 G. DITRICH APPARATUS FOR CLOSING STOCKING TOESFiled Feb. 4. 1966 INVENTOR GU/W-E/e 0/72/04 almmea ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Office 3,452,691 Patented July 1, 1969 3,452,691 APPARATUSFOR CLOSING STOCKING TOES Gunter Ditrich, Charlotte, N.C., assignor toChadbourn Gotham, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North CarolinaFiled Feb. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 525,058 Int. Cl. Db 23/00, 27/00, 7/00 US.Cl. 1122 8 Claims This invention relates to apparatus for holding andfeeding stockings to a sewing machine to close the toe with a so-calledFrench seam.

There is presently in use a machine which, among other things, providesan inspection form upon which an everted, open toe stocking is placed.The form moves the stocking to a clamp which grips the stocking andfeeds it to a toe-closing sewing machine. During seaming, the leg of thestocking is within the outer tube and over the inner tube of a twoconcentric tube everting and ejecting member in which vacuum in theouter tube tensions the stocking during seaming. After the seam iscompleted, the clamp releases the stocking and vacuum suction changesfrom the outer to the inner tube, to evert the stocking and eject it toa collection bin. This machine, however, will produce only what is knownas an under the toe seam, and is incapable of closing the toe by around, or French seam.

The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly which canbe installed on the above-described machine to convert the machine toclose stocking toes by means of a French seam.

Another object is the provision of such an assembly wherein the severalparts are completely adjustable to allow for precision mounting forcoaction with the elements of the machine on which the assembly ismounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an as sembly for closingstocking toes which will operate with the electric control system of theexisting machine.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of one practical embodiment thereof, when taken inconjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, thisspecification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a toe-closing assembly constructed inaccordance with the present invention, shown mounted on the existingmachine and in inoperative position, adjacent parts only of the existingmachine being shown;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view with the assembly being shown at thecompletion of a toe-closing operation;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken in the line 33 of FIGURE 2, thestocking clamp being in closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of'FIGURE 1, theclamp being shown in full lines in open position and in dotted lines inclosed position;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3,illustrating the drive gearing;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the clamp arms; and,

FIGURES 7A, 7B and 7C show, respectively a stocking before toe-closing,after closing, and after preboardmg.

The above mentioned machine, with which the present invention is to beused, includes a table, or platform, 1 above which is mounted aninspection form 2. There is also a sewing machine 3, having a presserfoot 4, and everting and discharging tube system 5, which consists ofinner and outer vacuum tubes, 6 and 7 respectively, with the inner tube6 projecting forwardly beyond the end of the outer tube 7. The improvedclamp 8, which forms the present invention, is mounted on the table andoperates intermediate the form, sewing machine and everting anddischarging system.

As the general machine does not form part of the present invention,parts only have been shown somewhat schematically. To understand thepresent invention, it is only necessary to know that in the generalmachine, the form 2 moves forward to place the open end of a stockingbetween the jaws of the clamp and then moves back to receive anothereverted stocking. The top of the stocking held by the jaws is thenplaced over the inner tube of an everting and discharging system whichhas a vacuum source connected alternately to the outer tube, to hold astocking taut during the toe-closing operation, and to the inner tube,to evert the stocking after closure and released from the jaws anddischarge it from the machine.

The clamp is carried on a T-shaped base 9 mounted on the table 1. Theleg 10 of the base supports a vertical post 11 which carries the clampupper jaw 12. The top bar 13 of the base provides journals for a drivingshaft 14 connected to the machine motor (not shown), an idler shaft 15and a driven shaft 16. Shaft 14 carries a driving gear 17; shaft 15carries an idler gear 18 in mesh with gear 17 and, shaft 16 carriesdriven gear 19 which is in mesh with gear 18. Thus, rotation of shaft 14by the motor will cause rotation of driven gear 19 and shaft 16 uponwhich it is mounted. Shaft 16 supports the lower jaw 20 of the clamp.

Post 11 is in three parts, and includes a base socket 21, fixed to theleg 10 of the clamp base 9, a rod 22, seated in socket 21 and heldimmovable by set screws 23, and a cylindrical cap 24 telescopicallymounted on the rod 22. A bearing plate 25, beneath the cap, rests uponthe top of a coil spring 26 which has its lower end seated on the top ofthe base socket 21. Vertical movement of cap 24 is limited by means of apin 27 through rod 22 which projects into vertical slots 28 in the cap.When the clamp is open, spring 26 holds the cap elevated with pin 27 incontact with the bottoms of slots 28 as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4.Pin 27 and slots 28 also serve to hold the cap against rotative movementrelative to the rod.

Cap 24 has an arm 29 extending horizontally from its top to overlieshaft 16. The arm has journalled in it a vertical, depending shaft 30which is in axial alignment with shaft 16. The clamp upper jaw 12 isfixed to the lower end of shaft 30, and, as shaft 30 is rotatablymounted in arm 29, the jaw and shaft can rotate together.

The jaw 12 consists of mounting arm 31 and a jaw proper 32. The jawproper is arcuate, with its curve being struck from the center of shaft30. The mounting arm has a hub 33 for securing the jaw to shaft 30. Aresilient stocking engaging member 34 of the same curvature as the jawproper is attached to the underside of the jaw proper.

Jaw 12 is moved to its operative, or stocking clamping, position bymeans of a control rod 35. This rod has its upper end bifurcated toembrace a lug 36 attached to the side wall of cap 24. A pin 37 connectsthe rod and lug. Socket member 21 of post 11 carries a guide 38 throughwhich control rod 35 is slidable. The lower end of the control rod isconnected by a pin 39 to a clevis 40 carried at the upper end of asolenoid plunger 41. The solenoid 42 is mounted in a bracket 43 beneaththe platform 1. Consequently, when solenoid 42 is energized rod 35 willbe drawn down, pulling cap 24 with it and compressing spring 26. Thiswill move jaw 12 downwardly. When the solenoid is deenergized, spring 26will expand and move cap 24 and jaw 12 upwardly until pin 27 strikes thebottom of slots 28.

Shaft -16 carries gear 19, as described, and is journalled in the base9. Shaft 16 is also journalled in a cover plate 44, as are shafts 14 and15, which plate is held in spaced relation above the base by spacers 45located at the 3 ends of the top bar 13 of base 9. A cylindrical cap 46is telescopically fitted over the upper end of shaft 16, and cap 46carries lower jaw 20' of the clamp. The cap and shaft are held againstrelative rotation by pins 47 in the shaft extending through verticalslots 48 in the cap.

Clamp jaw 20 is an inverted duplicate of jaw 12. It has a mounting arm49 and a jaw proper 50. A stocking-engaging strip 51 lies around theupper arcuate edge of the jaw proper. I aw 20 has an extension 52 at oneside of the jaw proper, and jaw 12 has a similar extension 53; whichoverlies the extension 52. A tie pin 54 is fixed to the end of theextension 52 and projects vertically and slides freely through anopening 55 in extension 53. By this means, rotary motion imparted toshaft 16 will cause rotary movement of lower jaw 20, and, through tiepin 54, the same motion will be given to upper jaw 12. Thus, the twojaws will move to the same degree and in unison, and this is truewhether the jaws are in stocking-engaging position or in open position.

Jaw 12 is caused to move to stocking-engaging position by means of a rod56 which is connected at its upper end to the top of cap 46 and extendsdownward through a central opening 57 in shaft 16. The lower end of rod56 rests upon a lever 58, which is pivoted intermediate its length bypivot pin 59 to a bracket 60, secured to the underside of platform 1.The opposite end of lever 58 is secured to the pin 39, which connectscontrol rod 35 to the clevis 40 on solenoid plunger 41. This arrangementwill cause the two jaws to move in opposite directions to be broughtinto clamping relation when the solenoid is energized. When the solenoidis released, spring 26 will lift jaw 12 and jaw 20 will drop by gravity.

As will be explained more fully later, after the form 2 has moved astocking to clamp-gripping position and the form has withdrawn leavingthe stocking gripped by the clamp, there will be a short length of theopen toe overhanging the clamp. This is the area where the closure seamis to be made. In order to hold this extended portion in the plane ofthe remainder of the stocking and in position for feeding to the sewingmachine, a pair of movable guides are provided. These include an upperguide 61 and a lower guide 62 pivotally mounted on a pedestal 63 fixedto the platform 1. The guides consist of arcuate guide elements 64 and65, which are secured to the pedestal by pairs of arms 66 and 67. Thearms are connected to the pedestal at vertically spaced points by pivotpins 68 and 69, with the pivots being equidistant above and below theinspection form. Pedestal 63 has a horizontally projecting arm 70',intermediate the pivots 68 and 69, which serves as an abutment for stopscrews 71 and 72 carried by the respective guides. By using screws asthe stop members, the relation of the arms when in guiding position canbe adjusted and the gap between the guides can be varied.

A spring 73, connected to the guide arms, yieldably holds the guides inoperative position. In order to separate the guides during insertion ofthe stocking into the clamp and between the guide member, the guideelements have tabs 74 and 75 which overlie the edges of the clamp jawsso that when the clamp opens the guides will be separated. Of course,when the guides close the spring 73 will draw the guides together untilthe stop screws strike the abutment arm 70. They will then be in theproper position to hold, and guide, the stocking toe without grippingit.

It is important that the clamp have its jaws centered on the extendedlongitudinal centerline of the inspection form, and that the common axisof the shafts 16 and 30 be on this centerline. It is also important thatthe sewing machine stitch point be located at a distance from the commonaxis of the shafts 16 and 30 just slightly greater than the distancefrom the common axis to the ends of the clamp jaws. With thisarrangement, the toe closure seam will be made on an are which issymmetrical on opposite sides of the center of the stocking foot, andlocated adjacent the arcuate inter edges of the clamp jaws. This willprovide a true French seam.

Cap 46 is shown as carrying a switch-operating arm 76, and switches 77and 78 are shown mounted on platform 1. Arm 76 contacts, and depressesthese switches when the clamp is in inoperative and open position. Whenthe clamp closes the switches are released. These switches are in theautomatic control circuits and these need not be described for anunderstanding of the present invention.

One other feature of the illustrated structure is the return spring 79,which surrounds shaft 14 and connects to gear 17 and the cover plate 44over the gears. When gear 17 turns to advance a stocking to the sewingmachine the spring 79 is wound, and when the driving power is cut offthe spring will unwind and return the clamp to inoperative position.

In using the device, the operator will draw an everted stocking 81 ontothe inspection form until the open toe 82 reaches a datum mark on theinspection form. The operator will then press a button, not shown. Theform then advances, carrying the stocking between the open jaws of theclamp. As the form reaches its most forward position, a switch willenergize solenoid 42 and move clamp jaws 12 and 20 toward one another toengage the stocking. At the same time, the guides 61 and 62 will movetoward one another by the contraction of spring 73. When the clamp jawsgrip the stocking, the inspection form will move back, leaving thestocking between the jaws and the projecting end 83 between the guideelements 64 and 65. Of course, as the inspection form moves out the jawswill close tighter, as will the guide elements. As the form draws out ofthe stocking, the operator will slip the stocking welt end over theinner vacuum tube 6 and within the outer vacuum tube 7, and vacuum isplaced on the outer tube to hold the stocking taut during thetoe-closing operation.

At this point in the operation, the drive means begins to move and theshaft 16 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move the clamp(and stocking) from the position shown in FIGURE 2. Shaft 16 rotateslower jaw 20, and jaw 20, through pin 54, rotates upper jaw 12. As thejaws move horizontally the stocking toe 84 is carried to the sewingmachine, being advanced on an are concentric to the curvature of theclamp jaws. As the stocking is centered on the clamping jaw, the seam 85formed by the sewing machine will be symmetrical on opposite sides ofthe jaw center. When the clamp moves toward the sewing machine, theextended portion of the stocking will gradually slip out of the guides61 and 62. However, before the trailing edge of the open toe leaves theguide, the leading edge will be upon the sewing machine and supported bythe machine. After the clamp completes its advancing movement, the drivemeans is shut off and spring 79 returns the gears, and the clamp toinoperative position. When the clamp jaws are between the tabs 74 and 75of the guide, the solenoid 42 is de-energized and the jaws open aspreviously described. When the jaws open, they spread the guide elements61 and 62 so that the inspection form with a stocking in place may entereasily between the clamp jaws and guide members.

When the stocking toe is released by the clamp, it is placed in theinner vacuum tube 6, and the vacuum shifts from the outer to the innertube. This will cause the stocking to evert, and to discharge from themachine.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stocking toe-closing machine of the type having a sewing machineto close the stocking toe, an inspection form to receive a stocking andmove it into a position for toe closing and to retract it therefrom, andvacuum means to hold a stocking taut during toe-closing and to evert astocking after toe-closing, the improvement which includes, means tohold a stocking open-toe and advance it into the sewing machine to forma French seam comprising, a clamp having upper and lower jaws positionedon opposite sides of the plane of horizontal movement of the inspectionform, means mounting the upper and lower jaws for movement toward andfrom one another and the plane of horizontal movement of the inspectionform and for horizontal arcuate movement from a position overlying theinspection form when at the toe-closing position to and through thesewing machine, the jaw mounting means having a vertical pivot axislocated in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal centerlineof the inspection form.

2. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein,there are means to move the jaws toward and from one another, and meansto swing the jaws arcuately about the pivot axis.

3. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein,there are means separated from the jaws to support a length of thestocking open-toe protruding beyond said jaws in the plane of the closedjaws prior to stitching.

4. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein,there are cooperating means on the jaws and supporting means to separatethe supporting means when the jaws are moved away from one another.

5. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, themeans mounting the lower jaw includes a rotatable shaft mounted on themachine below the horizontal plane of the inspection form, and a jaw armcarrying the lower jaw and slidably mounted on the shaft, and the meansmounting the upper jaw includes a post mounted on the machine to oneside of the inspection form, an overhanging arm slidably mounted on thepost, depending shaft rotatably mounted in the overhanging arm having anaxis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the shaftcarrying the lower jaw, and a jaw arm carrying the upper jaw, meansoutside the area of travel of a stocking in the machine interconnectingthe upper and lower jaws for simultaneous rotative movement, means torotate the shaft carrying the lower jaw, and means for moving the jawstoward and from one another.

6. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein, themeans for moving the jaws toward and from one another include a leverpivotally mounted intermediate its length for swinging in a verticalplane, means operably associated with the ends of the lever and therespective jaw arms, whereby movement of the lever will cause oppositeand simultaneous movement of the aws.

7. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein,there are means to swing the lever.

8. In a stocking toe-closing machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein,there are means to yieldably urge the upper jaw to upper releaseposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1965 Graves. 6/ 1967 Bryan etal. 11226-2 U.S. Cl. X.R.

1. IN A STOCKING TOE-CLOSING MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING A SEWING MACHINETO CLOSE THE STOCKING TOE, AN INSPECTION FORM TO RECEIVE A STOCKING ANDMOVE IT INTO A POSITION FOR TOE CLOSING AND TO RETRACT IT THEREFROM, ANDVACUUM MEANS TO HOLD A STOCKING TAUT DURING TOE-CLOSING AND TO EVERT ASTOCKIG AFTER TOE-CLOSING, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH INCLUDES, MEANS TO HOLDA STOCKING OPEN-TOE AND ADVANCE IT INTO THE SEWING MACHINE TO FORM AFRENCH SEAM COMPRISING, A CLAMP HAVING UPPER AND LOWER JAWS POSITIONEDON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLANE OF HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF THE INSPECTIONFORM, MEANS MOUNTING THE UPPER AND LOWER JAWS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD ANDFROM ONE ANOTHER AND THE PLANE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF THE INSPECTIONFORM AND FOR HORIZONTAL ARCUATE MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION OVERLYING THEINSPECTION FORM WHEN AT THE TOE-CLOSING POSITION TO AND THROUGH THESEWING MACHINE, THE JAW MOUNTING MEANS HAVING A VERTICAL PIVOT AXISLOCATED IN A VERTICAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL CENTERLINEOF THE INSPECTION FORM.